Category: Hope

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Waiting & Expecting

Do you dread waiting? Do these thoughts lodge in your thinking? Is it ever going to happen; why do I have to wait so long; I might as well give up and do something else, etc.


When we are waiting for God’s provision and His promises to be fulfilled it should fill us with excitement and anticipation, much the same as a pregnant woman waiting to give birth, waiting to hold her child for the first time.  It should be similar to the child waiting to go to the circus or on a special fishing trip with Grandpa.

Each day we are one day closer to the expected goal, our hopes are high!

Waiting for one of God’s promises to be visible starts with hope and grows into faith.

“Faith is what makes real the things we hope for. It is proof of what we cannot see. 2 God was pleased with the people who lived a long time ago because they had faith like this.” Hebrews 11:1-2

Waiting is what Abraham did for 25 years. Waiting for God’s promise to come to pass in the birth of a son, Abraham was excited!

“There was no hope that Abraham would have children, but Abraham believed God and continued to hope. And that is why he became the father of many nations. As God told him, “You will have many descendants.” 19 Abraham was almost a hundred years old, so he was past the age for having children. Also, Sarah could not have children. Abraham was well aware of this, but his faith in God never became weak. 20 He never doubted that God would do what he promised. He never stopped believing. In fact, he grew stronger in his faith and just praised God. 21 Abraham felt sure that God was able to do what he promised.” Romans 4:18-21

Joseph knew  God had made him a promise that he would rule over his brothers and that they would bow before him. He held on to that promise. However, he first experienced being sold into slavery, serving in a foreigner’s house, being falsely accused of rape. He was imprisoned and forgotten.

Eventually he was called before Pharaoh and exalted to second in command in all of Egypt. He experienced all of this with hope and without bitterness. Hope that the promise God made him would be kept.

“So Joseph said to his brothers again, “Come here to me. I beg you, come here.” When the brothers went to him, he said to them, “I am your brother Joseph. I am the one you sold as a slave to Egypt. 5 Now don’t be worried. Don’t be angry with yourselves for what you did. It was God’s plan for me to come here. I am here to save people’s lives. 6 This terrible famine has continued for two years now, and there will be five more years without planting or harvest. 7 So God sent me here ahead of you so that I can save your people in this country. 8 It was not your fault that I was sent here. It was God’s plan. God made me like a father to Pharaoh. I am the governor over all his house and over all Egypt.” Genesis 45:4-8

Jesus discounted the pain and anguish of dying on the cross and becoming sin for all mankind by looking past it to see what God had promised – the salvation and restoration of man in relationship to God.

“We must never stop looking to Jesus. He is the leader of our faith, and he is the one who makes our faith complete. He suffered death on a cross. But he accepted the shame of the cross as if it were nothing because of the joy he could see waiting for him. And now he is sitting at the right side of God’s throne. 3 Think about Jesus. He patiently endured the angry insults that sinful people were shouting at him. Think about him so that you won’t get discouraged and stop trying.” Hebrews 12:2-3

Nothing I have ever had to wait for compares with the depth of these examples.

We have the ability to replace dread with expectation; frustration with hope and disappointment with peace. We are one day closer to seeing God’s promise fulfilled.

Be joyful, be excited because God is doing a mighty work and He can be trusted to keep His word!

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Perspective

The clock is ticking. Time is running out. Things look almost hopeless!

It’s 11:59 with a deadline of 12:00. What to do? What to do?

Yesterday our daughter and son-in-law were going through two house closings, selling one and buying another. How nerve racking! ! Everything was signed, filed and recorded with 2 minutes to spare – 2 minutes! I found myself telling her that God is never late and rarely early, that’s the reason it’s called faith.

Faith is having God’s perspective, not our own.

Perspective! It’s important to keep a proper perspective when going through a tough time. If we begin to look to closely at the situation it will begin to seem overwhelming. It’s important to pull back and look at things the way God’s see them.

Do we see our situation as time is running out or do we see it as God does, there is time to spare?

The children of Egypt saw a sea too big to cross; God saw a stream and damned it up. Saul’s soldiers saw a giant too big to conquer; David saw a man who was no match for God. Noah saw a world filled with corruption and a devastating flood; God saw a cruise ship of salvation.

The disciples saw a hungry mob and Jesus saw lunch for all. The widow woman saw a famine and her last meal; the prophet saw an oil bottle and flour barrel that never ran out. Jairus saw a daughter who had died; Jesus saw a young girl who had fallen asleep.

What is our perspective? Do we see things as hopeless, do we see defeat? Do  we see a looming bankruptcy, a doctor’s dismal report, a failing relationship, a career that’s ending?

“Like a deer drinking from a stream, I reach out to you, my God. 2 My soul thirsts for the living God. When can I go to meet with him?

3 Instead of food, I have only tears day and night, as my enemies laugh at me and say, “Where is your God?”

4 My heart breaks as I remember the pleasant times in the past, when I walked with the crowds as I led them up to God’s Temple. I remember the happy songs of praise as they celebrated the festival.

5-6 Why am I so sad?  Why am I so upset? I tell myself, “Wait for God’s help!
    You will again be able to praise him, your God, the one who will save you.”

In my sadness I say, “I will remember you from here on this small hill, where Mount Hermon and the Jordan River meet.” 7 I hear the roar of the water coming from deep within the earth. It shouts to the water below as it tumbles down the waterfall. God, your waves come one after another, crashing all around and over me.

8 By day the Lord shows his faithful love, and at night I have a song for him—a prayer for the God of my life. 9 I say to God, my Rock, “Why have you forgotten me? Why must I suffer this sadness that my enemies have brought me?”
10 Their constant insults are killing me. They never stop asking, “Where is your God?”

11 Why am I so sad?  Why am I so upset? I tell myself, “Wait for God’s help!  You will again be able to praise him, your God, the one who will save you.”  Psalm 42 ERV

It’s ok to tell the Lord about our worries, our concerns, our heartaches but let’s not end there. We need to make our final declaration like the one that ends this Psalm, “Wait for God’s help!  You will again be able to praise him, your God, the one who will save you”.

Satan saw Jesus as a dead man, buried in a tomb but God saw the resurrection!  He has a plan for our deliverance.

Why be discouraged or disheartened? Put our hope in God!

Perspective!

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Don’t Quit Searching

Yesterday morning I sent Dave on a treasure hunt.

Dave and I have been gone for several days and on our first day we stopped at the store to buy a few things I needed for Kristine’s birthday cupcakes. While there I also bought some of our favorite coffee and some coffee filters.

I realized yesterday that we didn’t have either of those items when we unpacked the truck on Tuesday afternoon. Anyone who knows me well knows that coffee is an absolute essential to my morning existence. It’s better than gold!

Dave had to go out and search through the truck and the big tool box before he came back with the buried treasure I sent him for.  This is a silly example but it makes the point.

Have you ever lost something valuable? Maybe it was a piece of jewelry, a credit card or maybe something more personal like a relationship; did you search and work hard until you “found” it again?

Luke, chapter 15, talks about three things that were lost – a sheep, a coin and a son. The shepherd, the woman and the father searched diligently until all was recovered.

Jesus was teaching in the Sermon on the Mount and he said:

“Continue to ask, and God will give to you. Continue to search, and you will find. Continue to knock, and the door will open for you. 8 Yes, whoever continues to ask will receive. Whoever continues to look will find. And whoever continues to knock will have the door opened for them.” Matthew 7:7-8 ERV

Jesus was telling us to be diligent in our asking, in our seeking and in our knocking (pursuing). Where did He learn this persistence?

He saw it in His Father.

God, the Father, has been asking man for 1000+ years to allow Him to be their God, to lead and direct. Jesus had watched as the Father had searched  for His people after they had gone off to follow other gods and He loving brought them back.

He had followed the Father’s example to stand at the door and knock, waiting for it to open so He could have fellowship with the man He had created. Do you know that the Father is doing the same with us?

Jesus was doing more than giving us an opportunity to ask, seek and knock; He was reminding us that our relationship with the Father is one that the Father will continue to pursue – He won’t let go.

” Suppose a woman has ten silver coins, but she loses one of them. She will take a light and clean the house. She will look carefully for the coin until she finds it. 9 And when she finds it, she will call her friends and neighbors and say to them, ‘Be happy with me because I have found the coin that I lost!’ 10 In the same way, it’s a happy time for the angels of God when one sinner decides to change.” Luke 15:8-10 ERV

Follow the Father’s example. We need to pursue Him and have daily fellowship with Him. Let’s not allow our relationship to get lost in the activities of the day.

“ I say this because I know the plans that I have for you.” This message is from the Lord. “I have good plans for you. I don’t plan to hurt you. I plan to give you hope and a good future. 12 Then you will call my name. You will come to me and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will search for me, and when you search for me with all your heart, you will find me. ” Jeremiah 29:11-13 ERV

Search for Him and then rejoice because you will find that He is there waiting for you.

 

 

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Speak Up

I was thinking about Esther this morning. A young girl in a foreign land and she changed her world!

Her story can be read in the book with her name. The book of Esther is only 10 chapters long. It’s an easy read and I encourage you to take time to learn about this courageous young woman.

Esther was raised by her uncle, Mordecai, after her parents had died. She was a Jewish girl being raised in captivity in Persia. The Scripture says that she was very beautiful.

King Xerxes had thrown a party for all of his leaders; governors and officials, military commanders and anyone with influence. This was a display of Xerxes wealth and the greatest of his kingdom. We are told the display lasted for 180 days. A 6 month party.

While the men were being entertained by King Xerxes the women were spending time with their hostess, Queen Vashti. It was a jubilant time.

About 7 days into the celebration, the king called for his queen. He wanted her to wear her crown and show off her beauty. She refused his command. King Xerxes became very angry and he wrote a law saying that Queen Vashti would never see his face again. He divorced her and had her removed.

Now all this is in the first chapter…A search was made for the most beautiful women in the land. The king would choose someone to replace Vashti. Esther was brought to the palace with many other young women. They went through a year of beauty treatments and then were brought before the king.

Now I hope that’s enough to wet your appetite to read more of the story. Remember Esther was a Jewish girl in a foreign country being brought before the king. What an amazing story!

So what has all this got to do with speaking up?  We’ll get there.

After she was selected as queen, Esther’s uncle learned of a plot to destroy all the Jews in Persia. He came to Esther and told her that she must speak for her people.

One of my favorite verses in the book of Esther is this. Mordecai sent her this message.

“Mordecai answered, “Do not think that you in the king’s special house will live any more than all the other Jews. 14 For if you keep quiet at this time, help will come to the Jews from another place. But you and your father’s house will be destroyed. Who knows if you have not become queen for such a time as this?”  Esther 4:13-14 NLV

“Have you become queen for such a time as this?” Destiny. God’s plan for Esther was evident to her uncle. She had a purpose, she needed to speak up to save her people.

Have you ever felt you should speak up about something but fear kept you from it?

 What is the purpose and plan that God has ordained for you? Esther’s uncle said if SHE didn’t step forward that God would provide someone else as a deliverer.

King David proclaimed:

“The Lord’s arm is raised in victory. The Lord has shown his great power again. 17 I will live and not die, and I will tell what the Lord has done.” Psalm 118:16-17 ERV

What is it that God has asked you to declare? Your testimony of God’s goodness and love could be the very thing that will keep someone from falling into discouragement, depression, self-pity or loneliness.

Look for your purpose and plan today. Let God work through you to bring deliverance to those around you. Speak up!

You are here “for such a time as this”.

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Bad News! What Bad News?

Yesterday I had the opportunity to live the devotional I had just written – Good, Better, Best! Sometimes you just know the Lord is setting you up to see things His way…

I had been waiting months to receive news about a physical issue I have been dealing with. Yesterday was the day. I was going to get an answer, the end was in sight.

But the answer I received was not the answer I was  hoping for. My heart sank down into my shoes. I wanted to cry but managed to hold it together. I was not going to let my emotions win! My faith and hope has always been in the Lord on this and I wasn’t going to back off now.

I thought I knew how God was going to work it all out and now that was gone. I had to be willing to give up what I thought was my “best” answer for His.

Several Scriptures came flooding in to fill my heart.

“Shout praises to the Lord! The Lord blesses everyone who worships him and gladly obeys his teachings…They won’t ever be troubled  and the kind things they do will never be forgotten. 7 Bad news won’t bother them; they have decided to trust the Lord. 8 They are dependable and not afraid” Psalm 112:1, 6-8 CEV

“The Lord gives perfect peace to those whose faith is firm. 4 So always trust the Lord because he is forever our mighty rock.”     Isaiah 26:3-4 CEV

I don’t know what kind of things you consider bad news. It may be something about your kids, your job, your finances, your health. Whatever it is I encourage you to “not be afraid”. This news doesn’t come as a surprise to the Lord. He knows and He has a plan to turn it for our good.

We can trust Him!

The thing that’s important is to keep your eyes focused on God’s word. The perfect peace comes when we have our minds stayed or established firmly on the Lord.

Take a look at a father who came to Jesus asking for his daughter to be healed.

“The person in charge of the Jewish meeting place was also there. His name was Jairus, and when he saw Jesus, he went over to him. He knelt at Jesus’ feet 23 and started begging him for help. He said, “My daughter is about to die! Please come and touch her, so she will get well and live.” 24 Jesus went with Jairus. Many people followed along and kept crowding around...

While Jesus was still speaking, some men came from Jairus’ home and said, “Your daughter has died! Why bother the teacher anymore?”

36 Jesus heard what they said, and he said to Jairus, “Don’t worry. Just have faith!”

37 Jesus did not let anyone go with him except Peter and the two brothers, James and John. 38 They went home with Jairus and saw the people crying and making a lot of noise. 39 Then Jesus went inside and said to them, “Why are you crying and carrying on like this? The child isn’t dead. She is just asleep.” 40 But the people laughed at him.

After Jesus had sent them all out of the house, he took the girl’s father and mother and his three disciples and went to where she was. 41-42 He took the twelve-year-old girl by the hand and said, “Talitha, koum!” which means, “Little girl, get up!” The girl got right up and started walking around.

Everyone was greatly surprised. 43 But Jesus ordered them not to tell anyone what had happened. Then he said, “Give her something to eat.” Mark 5:22-24, 35-43 CEV

What you’re not reading here are verses 25-34 where Jesus and Jairus were stopped by a woman who had a blood issue. She reached out and touched Jesus, receiving the healing she needed. But her touch delayed Jesus and Jairus. I’m sure Jairus was very anxious – his daughter was dying, Jesus was going with him and they were delayed.

Then the worst thing happened. People came from Jairus’ home and said that his daughter had died. Jesus was unaffected by their report and told Jairus to have faith and not worry.

Don’t be moved by bad news!

Being in the presence of God is a good place to be. Just as Jesus was with Jairus in his time of need, the Lord is ever present with us. He has promised to never leave us or forsake us.

Jairus walked on to his home with Jesus and saw the miraculous! His daughter was raised from the dead.

In Psalms we have a promise that when we are in His presence we can be full of joy.

“You will teach me the right way to live. Just being with you will bring complete happiness. Being at your right side will make me happy forever.” Psalm 16:11 ERV

So what do we do when bad news comes – what do we do with delays?

“ Jesus said to his disciples, “Don’t be worried! Have faith in God and have faith in me.” John 14:1 CEV

We keep our eyes on the Lord and we will be firmly established!

 

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Not Quite Enough

This morning I took some time to look back at some of the blogs I have posted. Amazing – there are so many of them that have a theme of hope.

How many times have we been right on the edge of accomplishment but fallen short? So many times it seems I have been right on the edge of making it, but like the golf ball above it’s just not quite there.

Those are the times when I have been trying to accomplish things on my own, making my own agenda and asking God to bless it, using my own efforts to make things happen my way.

Almost there but not quite.

Disappointment, heart ache, anger, discouragement, stress – all of these are the results of life moments that are almost there but not quite.

That’s the reason we need and have hope.

“… when God wanted to prove for certain that his promise to his people could not be broken, he made a vow. 18 God cannot tell lies! And so his promises and vows are two things that can never be changed.   We have run to God for safety. Now his promises should greatly encourage us to take hold of the hope that is right in front of us. 19 This hope is like a firm and steady anchor for our souls.” Hebrews 6:17-19 CEV

Our hope in God and His promises becomes the anchor for our emotions, our souls. Our hope in God, not in ourselves, keeps us steady, firm and well grounded.

Situations and circumstances of life come crashing in, like waves on the sea. When we have God’s kind of thinking we can see the victory and not become a victim. We can have hope when everyone else says it’s hopeless; we can have peace in the midst of a storm.

“Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.” Psalm 43:5

We’re not like some who are just a hopin’ and a prayin’ but not expecting things to change. No, our hope has substance. Like Abraham who was 99 years old and had no child, he hoped against hope, knowing that God’s word was true.

“The Scriptures say that Abraham would become the ancestor of many nations. This promise was made to Abraham because he had faith in God, who raises the dead to life and creates new things.

18 God promised Abraham a lot of descendants. And when it all seemed hopeless, Abraham still had faith in God and became the ancestor of many nations. 19 Abraham’s faith never became weak, not even when he was nearly a hundred years old. He knew that he was almost dead and that his wife Sarah could not have children.” Romans 4:17-19 CEV

Hope in God!

King David had experienced many trials but also many victories because he kept his hope in God. When he went out to face Goliath as a young man, King Saul was concerned for his safety but David’s response was “The Lord delivered me from the lion and the bear, so who is this uncircumcised Philistine?”

When a problem comes that seems too big to handle that’s a good thing. It means God will show up to fight it for us. If the things we face in life are only small and insignificant we won’t gain any strength or character.

Now don’t get the wrong idea, I’m not saying that we should run around looking for trouble – not at all; it will come sure enough but when it does come, look up to your source of help – don’t loose hope!

“I look to the hills! Where will I find help? 2 It will come from the Lord, who created the heavens and the earth. 3 The Lord is your protector, and he won’t go to sleep or let you stumble.” Psalm 121: 1-3

Just remember, when it seems things are falling short, not quite enough, we need to put our hope in God!

He is our help, the substance of our hope.

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A Glorious Change

This weekend marks the 4th anniversary of being in our Arizona home!

Didn’t look like much did it? But we had a vision of what we wanted it to become.

Last night Dave and I sat out on the patio and talked about the first days we were here. The sweat, the paint, the cleaning, the patience, the money – all that went in to making it the house, no, the home it has become.

Such a transformation! An amazing change!

So this morning I took inventory, personal inventory. How have I changed in the last four years? This assessment has nothing to do with my external appearance; not weight or hair color. I looked at my life to see what changes are there and how I’ve grown in my walk with the Lord.

“…That is why we never give up. Our physical body is becoming older and weaker, but our spirit inside us is made new every day. 17 We have small troubles for a while now, but these troubles are helping us gain an eternal glory. That eternal glory is much greater than our troubles.” II Corinthians 4:16-17 CEV

There have certainly been challenges in the last four years but there has also been a greater dependence upon the Lord and a calm assurance in trusting Him in every situation.  It’s good to evaluate where I’ve been and where I’m heading. I don’t want to become a stagnant Christian. I want to continue to grow in my relationship with the Lord.

“You accepted Christ Jesus as Lord, so continue to live following him. 7 You must depend on Christ only, drawing life and strength from him. Just as you were taught the truth, continue to grow stronger in your understanding of it. And never stop giving thanks to God.” Colossians 2:6-7 ERV

When I look around our home I see so many changes and evidence of life. We have plants everywhere when once there were only a few cacti and a couple of mesquite trees. Things thrive here.

So have we!

“We praise you, Lord God! You treat us with kindness day after day,
  and you rescue us. 20 You always protect us and save us from death.” Psalm 68:19-20 

I go in to each day looking for God’s hand of love and protection. I am not disappointed. It’s amazing what you see when you are looking for it.  Oral Roberts used to say “Something good is going to happen to you this day.”  He was criticized for that because people thought he was just teaching a “feel good” gospel. I truly believe that God has something wonderful planned for each day of my life but I have to be willing to let Him take control and lead me to the place that He has designed.

I started to say, I’m not special or unique to the Lord, but I am. Each one of us are! God has a specific plan of good for each of us. He doesn’t place favorites and He certainly isn’t prejudice. He loves each and everyone of us the same.

That’s why I share this blog each morning. I want to remind everyone who reads it that God is our loving, compassion, kind, wise, giving heavenly Father. I want people everywhere to KNOW, not just think or guess, that maybe, possibly, perhaps God loves them. No, I want all to have the calm assurance that God does love me, no matter what!

“So, brothers and sisters, be careful that none of you has the evil thoughts that cause so much doubt that you stop following the living God. 13 But encourage each other every day, while you still have something called “today.” Help each other so that none of you will be fooled by sin and become too hard to change. 14 We have the honor of sharing in all that Christ has if we continue until the end to have the sure faith we had in the beginning. ” Hebrews 3:12-13 ERV

Take inventory today. See what God has done in the past and don’t become discouraged in the day to day transformation. Encourage others around you.

God is making a Glorious Change in each one of us!

 

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Living in the Sunshine

Now before you think that I am going to wax poetic about the joys of living in the desert, I want to share some thoughts with you that the Lord brought to me yesterday in my quiet time.

I have been dealing with some issues that require decisions and actions on my part. I was telling the Lord that I didn’t want to make a decision based on my own knowledge, fear or a sense of urgency.

It was then that I remembered these verses.

“ Trust the Lord completely, and don’t depend on your own knowledge. 6 With every step you take, think about what he wants, and he will help you go the right way. 7 Don’t trust in your own wisdom, but fear and respect the Lord and stay away from evil. 8 If you do this, it will be like a refreshing drink and medicine for your body.” Proverbs 3:5-8 ERV

I don’t want to do things or make decisions based on my own “common sense”. I want everything I do to be God-led and God-directed.  My intelligence and understanding  give me a limited view of the things before me, like a flashlight on a dark night.

But trusting the Lord completely and relying on His understanding of the situation is  comparable to the light of the sun at noonday. Nothing is hidden, everything is revealed. I would much rather walk in the light of the sunshine than with the light of a flashlight.

Remember a few days ago in the story of Saul/Paul. Saul was met on the road to Damascus by a bright blinding light from heaven. That’s God’s light and it’s so much greater than any light we use.  The same light appeared with the angels to the shepherds when they announced the birth of Jesus.

Trusting the Lord and His wisdom is far beyond my own wisdom and understanding.

“ But for you that honor my name, victory will shine like the sun with healing in its rays, and you will jump around like calves at play. 3 When I come to bring justice, you will trample those who are evil, as though they were ashes under your feet. I, the Lord All-Powerful, have spoken!” Malachi 4:2-3 ERV

God caused the sun to stand still for Joshua when he was fighting a battle. The sun represented God’s power and promise working for the Israelites.  As long as it was present they were winning.

“The Lord was helping the Israelites defeat the Amorites that day. So about noon, Joshua prayed to the Lord loud enough for the Israelites to hear:

“Our Lord, make the sun stop
    in the sky over Gibeon,
and the moon stand still
    over Aijalon Valley.”
So the sun and the moon
    stopped and stood still
until Israel defeated its enemies.

This poem can be found in The Book of Jashar. The sun stood still and didn’t go down for about a whole day. 14 Never before and never since has the Lord done anything like that for someone who prayed. The Lord was really fighting for Israel.” Joshua 10:12-14 CEV

So yesterday, after my quiet time I took Glory, our dog, for a walk. While I was on the walk the Lord reassured me to “wait” pursuing my own idea for a solution and to trust Him. After all, His ways are perfect.

This morning I woke refreshed. I plan on living this day in the “Son Shine”!

 

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Friends Through Fire & Rain

Do you smell like smoke? Odd question isn’t it?

It could be the smoke of something that burned in the kitchen, a good cigar or pipe, or perhaps a campfire. My son smells like smoke frequently – he’s a firefighter.

We have been looking at different people in the Bible who have had a friendship relationship with God. God has never been nor will He ever be a “fair weather” friend. He has made us promises to never leave us or abandon us.

“But now the Lord Who made you, O Jacob, and He Who made you, O Israel, says, “Do not be afraid. For I have bought you and made you free. I have called you by name. You are Mine! 2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you. When you pass through the rivers, they will not flow over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned. The fire will not destroy you. 3 For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, Who saves you...” Isaiah 43:1-3a NLV

In the book of Daniel chapter 3, King Nebuchadnezzar commanded that a statue of gold be built in his likeness. All the people who lived in the country were to bow down and worship the statue when they heard music playing. Everyone did as there were told except for three Jewish young men who were prisoners in the country. You’ve probably heard of them; Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. Those in authority told the king that these men wouldn’t bow and it made him very angry. He called them in and gave them strict warning that next time they heard the music they were to bow.

The music played but the men didn’t bow. They were brought before the king again and he was extremely angry. He had the furnace heated hotter than it had been for melting gold, had the  men bound and thrown into the fire.

Let’s digress from a moment. In his original warning the king had told them they would be thrown into the furnace if they didn’t bow. This was their response.

“Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, it is not necessary for us to answer you on this point. 17 If our God Whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, He will deliver us out of your hand, O king. 18 But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image which you have set up!” Daniel 3:16-18 AMPC

Let me paraphrase. King we don’t have to take a lot of time to think about our answer. If you throw us in the fire our God will deliver us. If you don’t throw us in we still aren’t going to serve your god or worship your statue.

They knew that God had brought Noah safely through the flood, they knew the stories of how God used to Moses to deliver the children of Israel. They were not afraid to stand strong because they knew that God would be there with them!

At this response, they were bound and  thrown in the furnance. Now here’s where it gets interesting. Nebuchadnezzar was looking on and as he watched, he saw that the men were walking around in the fire and that there was a fourth man in there with them!

Hallelujah!! God showed up in grand fashion.

To this the King reacted:

“Nebuchadnezzar went closer to the flaming furnace and said to the three young men, “You servants of the Most High God, come out at once!” They came out, 27 and the king’s high officials, governors, and advisors all crowded around them. The men were not burned, their hair wasn’t scorched, and their clothes didn’t even smell like smoke. 28 King Nebuchadnezzar said: Praise their God for sending an angel to rescue his servants! They trusted their God and refused to obey my commands. Yes, they chose to die rather than to worship or serve any god except their own. 29 And I won’t allow people of any nation or race to say anything against their God. Anyone who does will be chopped up and their houses will be torn down, because no other god has such great power to save.” Daniel 3:26-29 CEV

These men were slaves in a foreign country. They took a very unpopular stand – they refused to worship any god other than God the Father. They were persecuted and their lives were threatened but they stood strong.

They went through a fiery trial and came out, not even smelling like smoke.

If you’re going through a fiery trial of persecution for your stand for the Lord, Stand strong! Don’t bend, don’t compromise, don’t bow – God will show up and walk in the fire with you and He will bring you out!

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Stop and Smell the Flowers – Carefully

Yesterday I was out in the yard, the prickly pear are filled with blooms and I stopped to take a picture for a friend.

If you look closely in the top bloom you will see a honey bee bathing himself in pollen. It was fascinating to watch. He would dive in and roll around covering himself in yellow pollen. I tried to get a video of it but he flew away.

Who taught him to do that? Who gives the hummingbirds their command to fly south for the winter and to return in the Spring? Who tells the horses and cattle in the fields to grow thick heavy coats in the winter as protection from the cold? How do sea turtles know to come to the sandy beaches to lay their eggs? And who instructs the salmon to return to their spawning grounds?

These are not creatures with great intelligence. However, they were created with the instinct for preservation of life. Who gave them that instinct? The Creator of all things!

“God said, “I command the ocean to be full of living creatures, and I command birds to fly above the earth.” 21 So God made the giant sea monsters and all the living creatures that swim in the ocean. He also made every kind of bird. God looked at what he had done, and it was good.” Genesis 1:20-21 CEV

Since God created it all and gave such great forethought to every detail of His creation isn’t it safe to assume that He is equally as concerned with the details of our lives?

““But ask the wild animals, and they will teach you. Ask the birds of the heavens, and let them tell you. 8 Or speak to the earth, and let it teach you. Let the fish of the sea make it known to you. 9 Who among all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this? 10 In His hand is the life of every living thing and the breath of all men.” Job 12:7-10 NLV

Jesus told us that we should be free from worry about our daily necessities by comparing the way God provides for the flowers and birds to us. I know I use that analogy frequently but it’s because I am still so amazed by His love and provision.

“I tell you this: Do not worry about your life. Do not worry about what you are going to eat and drink. Do not worry about what you are going to wear. Is not life more important than food? Is not the body more important than clothes? 26 Look at the birds in the sky. They do not plant seeds. They do not gather grain. They do not put grain into a building to keep. Yet your Father in heaven feeds them! Are you not more important than the birds? 27 Which of you can make himself a little taller by worrying? 28 Why should you worry about clothes? Think how the flowers grow. They do not work or make cloth. 29 But I tell you that Solomon in all his greatness was not dressed as well as one of these flowers. 30 God clothes the grass of the field. It lives today and is burned in the stove tomorrow. How much more will He give you clothes? You have so little faith! 31 Do not worry. Do not keep saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or, ‘What will we drink?’ or, ‘What will we wear?’ 32 The people who do not know God are looking for all these things. Your Father in heaven knows you need all these things.” Matthew 6:25-32 NLV

Each time I see an example of God’s goodness in nature like the honey bee yesterday or the hummingbirds that come daily to my feeders it makes me stop and say thank you. God didn’t have to provide for us. He didn’t have to shower us with love and affection but He chose to. Independent of me efforts or lack thereof, He chose to love me! Amazing!!

“When I look up and think about Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have set in their place, 4 what is man, that You think of him, the son of man that You care for him? 5 You made him a little less than the angels and gave him a crown of greatness and honor. 6 You made him to rule over the works of Your hands. You put all things under his feet: 7 All sheep and cattle, all the wild animals, 8 the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea, and all that pass through the sea. 9 O Lord, our Lord, how great is Your name in all the earth!” Psalm 8:3-9 NLV

If you’re feeling down today, thinking that no one notices or really cares about the struggles you’re facing, go find a flower. Look at its intricacies and remind yourself that God who created these flowers is your loving heavenly Father and He cares, He deeply cares about you.

Elvis Presley sang a song years ago and the lyrics go like this:

Who made the mountains, who made the trees
Who made the rivers flow to the sea
And who sends the rain when the earth is dry
Somebody bigger than you and I

Who made the flowers to bloom in the spring
Who made the song for the robins to sing
And who hung the moon in the starry sky
Somebody bigger than you and I

He lights the way when the road is long
He keeps you company
And with His love to guide you
He walks beside you
Just like He walks with me

When I am weary, filled with despair
Who gives me courage to go on from there
And who gives me faith that will never die
Somebody bigger than you and I
Bigger than you and I

Let your heart be filled with song as you stop and smell the flowers!

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